Title
Why not routinely use best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) as estimates of cholesterol, per cent fat from kcal and physical activity
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Publication Date
1999-10-19
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Adult; Aged; Cholesterol; *Computer Simulation; Dietary Fats; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Metabolism; Middle Aged; *Models, Cardiovascular; *Models, Statistical; *Predictive Value of Tests
Disciplines
Cardiology | Cardiovascular Diseases | Diagnosis | Lipids | Polycyclic Compounds
Abstract
Measures of biologic and behavioural variables on a patient often estimate longer term latent values, with the two connected by a simple response error model. For example, a subject's measured total cholesterol is an estimate (equal to the best linear unbiased estimate (BLUE)) of a subject's latent total cholesterol. With known (or estimated) variances, an alternative estimate is the best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP). We illustrate and discuss when the BLUE or BLUP will be a better estimate of a subject's latent value given a single measure on a subject, concluding that the BLUP estimator should be routinely used for total cholesterol and per cent kcal from fat, with a modified BLUP estimator used for large observed values of leisure time activity. Data from a large longitudinal study of seasonal variation in serum cholesterol forms the backdrop for the illustrations. Simulations which mimic the empirical and response error distributions are used to guide choice of an estimator. We use the simulations to describe criteria for estimator choice, to identify parameter ranges where BLUE or BLUP estimates are superior, and discuss key ideas that underlie the results.
DOI of Published Version
10.1002/(SICI)1097-0258(19991115)18:21<2943::AID-SIM241>3.0.CO;2-0
Source
Stat Med. 1999 Nov 15;18(21):2943-59.
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Statistics in medicine
Related Resources
PubMed ID
10523752
Repository Citation
Stanek EJ, Well AD, Ockene IS. (1999). Why not routinely use best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) as estimates of cholesterol, per cent fat from kcal and physical activity. Cardiovascular Medicine Publications. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0258(19991115)18:21<2943::AID-SIM241>3.0.CO;2-0. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cardio_pp/73